The goal of public health isn't immigration enforcement

Posted: Wednesday, April 24, 2002

I am writing in response to Gene Baldwin's April 2 letter regarding recent accommodations made by the Clarke County Health Department for its Hispanic clients. I think Mr. Baldwin needs to check his logic before he draws the wide conclusions made in his letter.

First, equating Hispanics with ''criminals'' is wrong. On what is he basing this conclusion? I don't think any reference to the percentage of illegal aliens treated at the Clarke County Health Department was mentioned in the original article by Kate Carter, and it's fallacious and racist (a label Mr. Baldwin is evidently proud of) to equate the two. Has it occurred to Mr. Baldwin that some patients are in fact here legally and simply do not have access to health insurance that would allow them to see a private provider?

These so-called criminals are often families who have come here to better their situation in life, the way so many immigrants to Ellis Island did years ago. Not knowing our language makes it difficult to get a well-paying job, and language classes are either expensive or offered at hours that are inconvenient for those who work. Many have no transportation to even get to the classes.

Second, assuming all of the clients at the Clarke County Health Department are illegal, what would happen if we allowed them and their children no access to healthcare? Would this improve their situation and lead them to become productive citizens of this country? Probably not. It would only guarantee they languish in illness and poverty and that their children would do the same.

What about ignoring the fact that they may not be immunized against diseases that are no longer a problem for American citizens? Tuberculosis, for example, which is highly contagious and often deadly? I don't think it's in anyone's best interest to allow them to remain unprotected against this disease thereby leaving all people in Athens in danger of it. This is in direct contradiction to the mission of public health -- the prevention of disease, not law enforcement.